Here is part 2 of 3. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own anything.

The Potions Mistake

Chapter 2: Opposite Behavior

Hermione sighed and put the paper down as if she regretted buying it in the first place. Harry peered at the front article:

Deadly Avalanche, More Than 756 Dead

Late last night around three in the morning, a violent trembling aroused the citizens of a small village, located just to the north of London. One witness claims, "I got up when my house began to shake. Next thing I know, I look out the window and see the mountain crumpling. Then a whole side of the mountain started sliding right towards my neighborhood; huge boulders falling at us and everything." Soon after, Ministry officials arrived on the scene. As to exactly what caused the landslide, Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge said this, "We have absolutely no doubt as to the source of this tragic disaster. As horrible as it is to admit, this incident was the work of He-Who-Must-No-Be-Named and his followers. We also have evidence that suggests there were giants present on the mountain when the avalanche occurred. However, the investigation is currently still underway and we can neither confirm nor deny giant involvement as of yet." The Ministry assures everyone that they will keep our reporters notified as new developments unfold.

"This is terrible," Harry said after he was finished reading. "It's only the beginning of the second war and it looks like Voldemort is off to a good start already."

"I'll say!" Ron nodded. "I don't know where we would be without him. It would probably be total chaos around here."

"Er…" Harry didn't quite know what to say to his friend's strange statement. "Why would it be unorganized at Hogwarts without him?"

"Blimey, Harry!" Ron suddenly exclaimed. "You're acting really odd today."

Deciding to ignore Ron's response, Harry pulled out his Divination essay to check for any mistakes as he filled his plate with whatever was left over from the lunch he had supposedly missed. He took one glance at his heading and immediately did a double take. Instead of his original title, Why Divination Is Important, it now read, Do House-Elves Like Socks?

Unfortunately, the surprises did not end there; Harry looked over towards the High table where the faculty and staff were seated and almost choked on the piece of chicken he was eating. Sitting in the headmaster's chair, speaking with Snape, was none other than Lord Voldemort.

"Voldemort's the headmaster?" Harry said in shock.

"Um… Yeah," Ron appeared slightly worried. "What did you think I was talking about earlier? Are you sure you don't need to stop by the Hospital Wing, Harry?"

"Then what happened to Dumbledore?" There were several frightened gasps and the clanging of silverware dropping onto plates.

"Honestly, Harry," Hermione whispered. "Not so loud. You know people don't like to use You-Know-Who's name."

"But Dumbledore should be—" Harry started, but Hermione interrupted him as many students started to glance uncomfortably in their direction. "Can someone please tell me why everyone is acting strangely all of a sudden?" he finally asked. "It's like everything is the opposite of what it is supposed to be!"

Realizing the only explanation and the only solution, Harry got up and hurried out of the Great Hall, heading down the stairway and back into the dungeons. Fortunately, the Potions classroom door was already opened; it seemed that Snape had finished lunch early and was in his office grading papers. He rushed in only to discover that it wasn't the Potions Master—it was Hagrid.

"Can I help you, Potter?" Hagrid asked, sounding uncannily like Snape. Harry figured that any help he could get at the moment was great, no matter who it was from.

"Professor, earlier this morning a vial of potion spilled all over my hands and desk. When I went to lunch after that, everything was—well—Ron was behaving like Malfoy and Malfoy was acting like Ron. The same thing happened with Hermione and Dumbledore," Harry attempted to explain. "It was as if the people I knew had swapped lives with each other."

As if things could not get any worse, at that very second Neville entered the room. "Oh, hi Harry," he said. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything." Harry meant to answer but nothing came out as his attention was drawn to Neville's forehead; just below his hair was a lightning bolt shaped scar. "I-I guess I'll just come back later…" Neville peered at Harry's expression nervously and scurried off in the opposite direction.

Neville: The Boy Who Lived! Next is the last and final chapter of this short story.

-PurpleArmadillo